Hi everyone. As you've probably noticed, this fic took a little bit of a break. I have uploaded( or gotten Anica to) Kurama's turn with dude and the Friar, and now this chapter. Before anyone flames me for this, this chapter is much shorter. (I distinctly remember saying in the last author note that the consecutive chapters would be. However, although I do retain my right as the author(ess) to make the chapters any length, I do promise most will be longer than this.) It is also, alas, serious. So. (shrugs) That is why this chapter is not longer. I am of the opinion that no good quality fic, if it's going to be carried on a long time, can go completely with out some seriousness in it. For those English nuts of you out there (cough) Anica (cough) this chapter is mainly to make the characters "well rounded." Which, for those of you who care and don't know, I believe that means they have more than the one side we normally see. I'm putting in this chapter because I think it is necessary to make the characters more understandable and likeable. However, it is not necessary to have been read for the rest of this fic to make sense. So, if you don't want to read anything serious....(shrugs), go someplace else. If however, you feel that this chapter won't totally destroy your current opinion of this piece of fiction, or may even improve it....please go ahead and read! ==
Next, I wanted to do some shameless self-promotion.....a few people found my poems I uploaded on here as well...there is one for YYH, and one for X-files. Anyone who wants to check those out, feel free. Also, special note to Songbird2000...(is shocked) you have no idea how funny that was to get that e-mail forwarded to me...you see, a friend of mine sent that to me, and I sent it off faithfully like a good still-partially-uneducated citizen...including to Anica....she didn't have enough "friends" whose e-mails she knew, so she picked random people off of this site and sent it to them. What goes around comes around, I guess. (shakes head) anyway...(grins) I already sent it off to everyone once, so I'm choosing not to do it again....but thank you for sending it to me. (smiles brightly)
Firecracker2: Thanks a lot, I'm glad you like it.(beams) I'm glad to see someone realizes it's all a big mix-up; I keep telling and telling you people...but someone always sends a review in saying they hope this isn't a HxK fic...(shrugs) I promise it's not, people. It's supposed to be funny, that's all. Oh, and thank Anica for the idea of the Monk. I think he was hers...and Dude might've been mine...or maybe that should be reversed...anyway, glad you liked it!
Kurama and Hiei's Lover(): I've seen your name around a few times....what's the () mean? is it supposed to stand for something...or did someone already have the pen name H and K's lover so you put that in to make yours different? Whatever. I was just wondering. Here's the next chapter.....hope you enjoy even if it's not meant to be funny.
netta10290: (shrugs) Well...you're right...I noticed that, too, writing it. Hopefully it was enjoyable anyway. And this won't be, but I can promise the next one will be. Anyway, thank for dropping the review. Bye!
Maki-sama: (grins) thanks....I wrote out Hiei's actions when Kurama came in...and wasn't sure where to go from there...so I thought it would be funny if he had fallen asleep...something he can't believe he's done because he's NEVER unaware of his surroundings...and in front of Kurama, too..I think Kurama's kinda his idol...poor Hiei...
Once again, if I forgot anybody....sorry. I'm only human. And, the chapter after this one will be funny again, so bear with me.
A Brief Respite
Hiei was now sitting on Kurama's windowsill, staring out at the night sky. Kurama glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, knowing that this was a sign of his immanent departure, as though he was trying to get out with out actually leaving.....something Kurama found amusing. He himself was lounging on his bed, reading a book he enjoyed. It was currently his third time reading it, and although he'd tried to get the little koorime to try it himself, Hiei had refused. It was a pity, Kurama mused, that Hiei was so closed minded about ningen things. He would almost certainly enjoy this if he tried it. But it was his call. Kurama wasn't going to make him do it if he didn't want to. People who did attempt such a thing generally didn't remain in the same state as they were previously. Kurama could still vividly remember last night's sweet snow parlor incident, after which he had confiscated the katana. It was just too much temptation for the little demon...sweet snow...his katana...Kuwabara...all in the same room....It hadn't started out badly. In fact, Kurama had been quite pleased that Hiei seemed to be attempting to exercise the manners Kurama had been trying to instill in him since his first visit to the human world. It had all gone quite pleasantly until....
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"Hey, Three-Eyes, you gonna eat all that iice cream yourself?" Kuwabara had already finished his, only seconds before Hiei had started, showing a new world record for consumption of ice cream.
Hiei had taken quite the offense at this statement, seeming to think the question had been posed as a challenge to his eating abilities. The resulting wrestling match had broken two chairs, scared one small child, and given Yusuke a black eye when he tried to intervene. The ice cream had remained unharmed on the table.
Once Hiei had thoroughly "vanquished his enemy," he sheathed his katana, and proceeded to ravish his ice cream bar while the rest looked on. The owner of the parlor, a Mrs. Mamme( as they called her, due to an extremely funny joke from the first time Hiei had met her) had strolled on over, given him another one, and told the others it was time they took him home.
(end flashback)
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"Why're you smiling, fox?" Kurama looked up, startled.
"Nothing, really, Hiei. Don't worry about it." He smiled while Hiei "hn'ed."
"Why did he do that?" he asked abruptly. Kurama gave him a puzzled frown.
"Why did who do what?"
"Kuwabara. Why did he seem so upset when you were made Juliet." It was a statement, not a question. Kurama sighed. He had been hoping to go a little bit longer before broaching that particular topic.
"Because we are two males, Hiei," he said calmly. Hiei gave him a look that clearly said, "so"? "Kuwabara is not one to readily agree to male/male couples."
"But we're not a couple." Again, a statement, not a question. And this statement could have been used as an anvil to break rocks. Kurama tried again, patiently.
"Kuwabara knows that. They all know that. But he is still uncomfortable with the idea."
"It doesn't matter in the demon world," Hiei pointed out. Kurama winced, hoping like heck that Youko hadn't heard, and was, hopefully asleep right now and WOULDN'T hear it.
"Yes, but this isn't the demon world, is it?" he pointed out. He watched as Hiei seemed to be putting these things together in his mind.
"But...the 'romance' scenes, as you call them...what about those?" he asked, slowly realizing the situation clearly for the first time. Kurama was quiet a moment, considering.
"I suppose...the same way he practiced," he answered finally.
"...With a pillow?" Hiei asked, sounding doubtful.
"Um, well, not--not for performances, of course. Because they most certainly never had a pillow in Shakespeare's play."
"So what then?" Hiei steeled himself for the answer.
"Um," Kurama began intelligently.
"We can't practice that way and do it differently in the play," Hiei pointed out, watching Kurama closely. Kurama just looked lost.
"Then I have no idea. I'm sorry Hiei. I hadn't given it much thought."
"We don't have to do anything...." Hiei trailed off, his gaze still locked on Kurama, who was starting to find himself annoyed by it. Could he help it if he hadn't foreseen this when he tried out?
"...I don't know Hiei. The scripts a little more liberal than I had originally thought...but I'm positive he don't have to actually DO anything. " He paused, and smiled over at Hiei who sat tensed and prepared to flee from his crouching position on the far side of the window sill. "If it makes you feel any better, I don't like you like that. I'm fairly certain I'm straight." He indulged in an ironic smile. Hiei relaxed marginally.
"I don't like you either, fox." Kurama bit his tongue to keep from pointing out that wasn't exactly what he had said.
"So what do you think of me, Hiei?" he asked pleasantly. The little koorime's eyes widened and he stared back at Kurama. He shifted uncomfortably and glanced at the floor to avoid the kitsune's gaze.
"What do you mean?" He asked, voice gruff to cover over his confusion and embarrassment.
"Well, we've been partners for quite some time now, Hiei. And in all that time, we've never really talked like this. So, quite simply, what. Do. You. Think. Of. Me?" Hiei scowled.
"You've been in the ningenkai to long, kitsune, if you think these things matter." Kurama merely continued to look at him. Hiei snarled irritably. "You're smart. You're a good fighter. You're old. You're stupid to remain here with all these ningens and act as one." He paused, and risked a glance up at Kurama, to find him smiling gently, with no expectations or requirements of any kind on his face. No demands being made. It shocked Hiei, quite suddenly, to realize that the kitsune was always like this. That part of the reason he came to Kurama's house in the first place was because he was never made to feel as if he were anything. There was nothing here in this room, that he had to live up to. Good or bad. And that Kurama, for all his worldly experience, and age, never made him feel the way everyone else did. He could relax around the kitsune. The impact of this realization almost winded the koorime.
Continuing, in a low, soft voice so he would have the option to deny all this later, Hiei continued. "Your very understanding," Hiei murmured. "Others...assume they know everything, and have it all figured out. They judge, and live their lives too blind to see what's before them. You aren't. You've been around a long time, and although I don't approve of this current way of life for you, you continue to learn. " He gaze flickered over to the book still in Kurama's hand. His lips quirked up in a semblance of a smile. "You've spent you whole life learning and decided that the only certainty in this life is that there are none. You watch and learn before moving. You never act out of haste; you study. And you understand things because of it. Things like, these ningen emotions." He looked up at Kurama seriously. "I doubt I will ever understand you in this, Kitsune. I'm not meant to. But you are, and you do--well."
"When you met me, you could've cast me off like everyone else and you didn't. You didn't like me, and I respect that. But you didn't desert me. Even when everyone else had. You had no reason to take me in like you did. No one in the makai survives long acting as you did. No one except you. You taught me....you see me in a way that no one else does...not even me." His gaze had locked with Kurama's, and had steadily grown stronger and more confident as he continued. It had now reached the point where it seemed possible it would penetrate lead. Kurama returned it.
"You...cared. When no one would. I never understood that. I still don't. I would never have done the same thing in your place. But I thank you, Kitsune." He bowed his head respectfully, then resumed speaking. "You have my loyalty, and my respect." He smirked. "Probably the only one who does, I might add. And, if you want it...you have whatever I have to offer in the way of friendship." He raised a brow at Kurama, telling him without words that this wasn't necessarily a benefit. Look who he was after all. But he meant it. Even thought he'd most likely never mention or acknowledge this night, ever again, Kurama knew he still meant it.
He nodded, a slight smile still resting easily on his lips, not daring to change the atmosphere in the room and cause the smaller demon any discomfort after having taken him into his confidence like that. Hiei was not one to offer such gifts as loyalty, respect, and friendship. As far as Kurama knew, he had never openly done this with anyone. He had waited through his little tirade at the beginning, knowing that the first words Hiei spoke were not real, meant nothing. Those were the words of the Hiei he wanted everyone to see, that he could accept everyone seeing. They were only the barest of truths, the plainest and most distant of observances. He had waited patiently for that Hiei to pass, knowing he would. The others would never have understood; they saw Hiei as he wanted them to see. Kurama knew better; he had seen and done a fair bit of his own acting, in his day, and knew when another was also. Yusuke and the rest never waited for the mask to remove itself, assuming that Hiei existed only in mind, or only to Kurama. Perhaps it did.
He smiled. He respected Hiei's unspoken terms, and knew they would never again mention this conversation, or this night, ever. "Thank you, Hiei. I would be honored to accept your gift of friendship," he replied calmly, putting all his understanding into the words. The look in Hiei's eyes relaxed a little as he understood that Kurama knew.....and that he would never tell.
Hiei nodded and curled up on the window sill, turning his back on the fox abruptly. "You need to sleep, fox. You have school tomorrow," he stated firmly, and drifed off, exhausted from the emotions spent in that past half-hour. Kurama watched, thoughtfully as Hiei's breathing relaxed, becoming deeper and steadier, but still light enough to wake quickly should the need arise. Hiei really was meant to live in the Makai, Kurama pondered. He thought back on his words of earlier. "You understand things, things like these ningen emotions...I doubt I ever will. I'm not meant to. but you are."
"You do understand, Hiei. You just don't realize it yet," Kurama murmured to the still night air. Rising, he walked over and turned off the light. "gGood night Hiei," he said softly, turning over himself on the bed, and pulling the covers up around his shoulders. Only silence answered him.
Well....hope you all liked...I did. I thought it was sweet...and easy to write, surprisingly. Hiei usually requires about three or four revisions to get more or less correctly...but this wrote itself. Alright, you all know the drill. Read, review. If you feel like being nice, Anica always needs the encouragement. Check out my poems if you so desire; next chapter will go back to it's usual funniness.....(I don't think that's a word...-.-)